Overview

CAEC Reading

Grammar and Language

7. Grammar and Punctuation

7.87 Sentence Structure Mastery

Sentence Structure Errors and Advanced Clause Combining

Diagnose fragments, run-ons, comma splices, and modifier errors, then combine clauses strategically for polished, test-ready writing.

What You'll Learn

Identify fragments, run-ons, and comma splices by testing whether each clause can stand alone.

Correct misplaced and dangling modifiers by placing descriptive phrases next to the word they modify.

Repair faulty parallelism by matching grammatical form across items joined by coordinating or correlative conjunctions.

Diagnose subordination errors where a dependent clause is mistakenly punctuated as a complete sentence.

Combine independent and dependent clauses using nested subordination and absolute phrases for rhetorical control.

Evaluate multiple revision options in editing exercises to select the version with the clearest, most concise structure.

What You'll Practice

Selecting the correct fix for a comma splice from four multiple-choice revision options

Locating a dangling modifier hidden in an otherwise grammatically correct complex sentence

Rewriting a list that breaks parallel structure across a coordinating conjunction

Untangling a sentence with two competing subordinating conjunctions to find its single main idea

Combining two short independent clauses into one sentence using an absolute phrase or nested relative clause

Why This Matters

Editing sections on standardized tests, college application essays, and professional writing all reward the same skill: catching a structural flaw at a glance and fixing it in the fewest words. Once you can name exactly what is wrong with a sentence, whether it is a dangling modifier or a competing subordinator, you stop guessing between answer choices and start reasoning your way to the cleanest revision.

This Unit Includes

Practice exercises

Learning resources

Skills

Sentence Structure

Error Correction

Clause Combining

Modifier Placement

Parallelism

Subordination

Test-Style Editing

TEST-PREP Curriculum Aligned